Self-propelled continuously moving toy

ABSTRACT

A self-propelled toy that moves about a planar surface, changing direction whenever an obstacle too large to drive over is contacted. The toy is comprised of a rigid, hollow shell having a driving means, within which the driving means provides the necessary torque on the shell for forward and turning motion.

United States ateiit 1191 m] 3922,33

Merrill et al. 51 1 27, N73

[541 SELF-PROPELLED CONTINUOUSLY 2,949,696 8/1960 Easterling ..46/243 MMQVING TOY 2,939,246 6/1960 Glos ..46/243 M [76] Inventors: Charles E.Merrill, 4461 Coconut Creek Blvd., Pompano, Fla. 33063; Joseph H.Gifford, 9403 NW. 37 Court, Coral Springs, Fla. 33065 PrimaryExaminerLouis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-D. L. WeinholdAttorney-Barry L. Haley [22] Filed: Oct. 12, 1971 57 ABSTRACT pp N041881322 A self-propelled toy that moves about a planar surface,vchanging direction whenever an obstacle too [52] US. Cl ..46/206 largeto drive over is contacted- The my is comprised 51 Int. Cl. ..A63h 17/00of a rigid, hollow Shell having a driving means, Within [58] Field ofSearch ..46/243, 245, 99, 100, 206 1 which the driving means providesthe necessary tOrque on the shell for forward and turning motion.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures3,312,013 4/1967 Grave s ..46/243 M PATEN-TEUM'ARN ms 3,722,134

JOESPH G/FFO/QD 6770719455 E NEE/PILL Q INVENTORS SELF-PROPELLEDCONTINUOUSLY MOVING TOY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The inventionrelates generally to the field. of toys, and in particular to aself-propelled toy that moves continuously along a planar surface.Whenever the toy body contacts an obstacle in its path, a driving meanscauses the toy body to begin its motion in a different direction awayfrom the obstacle, thus'insuring continuous movement of the toy.

In the past, several rolling, self-propelled sphereshaped toys have beendisplayed which drive the toy in a random fashion about a' planarsurface. However, whenever an obstacle was encountered by the toy body,usually the toy would become stopped against the obstacle and would thenhave to be retrieved by the person playing with the toy. Suchwould be acommon occurrence in a typical playroom or living room area whenever thetoy encountered furniture or similar objects. Thus the path and locationof the toy would have to be constantly monitored and corrected in orderto keep it continuously moving about a play area. Applicants inventionalleviates the problem of interruptions in the continuous movement ofthe toy by providing a self-propelled toy that when encountering orcontacting an obstacle over which it cannot pass will allow the toy toeasily change its direction of movement up to 180 so that it will moveaway from the obstacle insuring continuous movement. Observation of thetoy during direction change is also a source of amusement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A self-propelled toy comprising arigid, hollow envelope separable into two sections, and a driving meanshaving three supporting means supportable on the inside of said body,the first supporting means including a driving wheel, and a torque meanscoupled to the driving wheel which rotates the drive wheel. The drivingmeans is supported at three points or areas against the inner surface ofthe toy rigid body and may be comprised of a frame structure havingthree wheels one of which is connected to a motor. The center of gravityof the driving means is kept below the center of the envelope andrelatively low with respect to the frame for increased stability of thedriving means. In operation, the driving means is propelled along theinner surface of the rigid toy envelope thus causing the envelope torotate across the planar surface. When an obstacle is encountered sothat the rigid outer envelope cannot continue to rotate in the samedirection, the driving means begins to climb up the interior wallsurface until a position is reached where the steepness of the inclineis such that the driving means will no longer move upward (thehorizontal driving and retarding forces being in equilibrium) reaching aposition at which torque from the single driving wheel will cause thedriving frame structure to rotate thus changing the direction of thedriving means until one is reached that allows the driving means and theentire envelope to move forward together.

It is an object of this invention to provide a rolling toy that movescontinuously about a planar surface changing direction whenever ablocking obstaclev is encountered.

It is another object of this invention to provide a rolling toy that canchange direction when contacting an obstacle.

And yet another object of this invention is to provide a rollingenvelope having a driving means within that propels and rotates theenvelope, and provides turning moments to redirect the envelope wheneveran obstacle is contacted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an elevation view of theapplicants toy.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of applicants toy. FIG. 3 is a partial cutawayelevation view of applicants toy in contact with an obstacle.

FIG. 4 is a partial elevation view of applicants invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, andin particular to FIGS. 1, and 2, applicants toy envelope is showndivided into two hemispheres l2 and 14 which fit tightly together alonglip 44. Each hemisphere l2 and 14 is translucentin this embodiment inorder to show driving means 16 inside the toy spherical envelope 10. The

driving means is comprised of three supporting means 20, 22 and 24 whichare two wheels and a front supporting member respectiv y, coupled toframe 18 through axles 36, 34, and 30. The driving means is essentiallya three-wheeled vehicle driven by a small D.C. electric motor 32 whichis coupled to wheel through axle 36. Although shown as a direct drive, areduction gearing may be provided between motor 32 and wheel 20. Theenergy for motor 32 is provided by a battery 26 which may be of anyappropriate voltage coupled through On-Off switch 38 by contact wires28. The left wheel axle 34 is rotatably coupled to frame 18 throughapertures (not shown) in rear frame sections 46 and 48. The forwardsupport member 24 is spherical to allow not only forward movement butyaw movement relative to the longitudinal center line of the drivingmeans 18 and is rotatably coupled to opposite sides of U shapedaxle-support members 31 which are each fixed to the frame 18 at one endand to axle at the opposite end. The electric motor 32 is secured torear support section 50. Drive wheel 20 is driven by motor 32 throughaxle 36 which is directly coupled to the motor shaft and is supportedthrough an aperture (not shown) in rear frame section 52.

FIG. 3 shows driving means 16 (without motor, battery, or switch) havinga center of gravity 42 which is designed to be as low as possible withrespect to the frame 18 to prevent the driving vehicle 16 from turningover as it drives up the inner surface of envelope l4 whenever anobstacle 40 is contacted that the toy cannot roll over.

After an obstacle 40 is contacted, the driving vehicle 16, because it isdriven by only one wheel 20, will tend to rotate (FIG. 4) about thecenter of gravity 42, rotating sliding front support member 24 in alateral direction. The center of gravity 42 will shift within theenvelope adding a tilting moment to the driving vehicle. The rotationand upward movement of the driving vehicle 16 will continue until adirection is established that allows the envelope to move uninterruptedby the obstacle. This will cause a change in direction of the envelopespath. The weight of the driving vehicle and the driving means will causethe envelope to begin rolling and the envelope will continue in the samedirection until another obstacle is encountered. Again in FIG. 4, thedriving means has been shown without motor, battery or switch forclarity.

To begin operation of the toy, the envelope is separated (FIG. 1) andthe switch is placed in the On position thus starting motor 32. Theenvelope portions are tightly joined and the toy is placed on a planarsurface ready for operation.

A decorative oranimated housing may be placed over the vehicle framesuch as a cat or mouse body or the like. The envelope shape, althoughshown as a sphere could be ellipsoidal as long as there is sufficientcurvature to allow rotation of the envelope and inner movement of thevehicle.

Although the power source has been shown to be electricity, amechanical, spring-driven motor could be utilized.

The On-OE switch for the driving means may be a magnetic or a lightsensitive switch remotely actuated by a magnet or light actuated fromoutside the envelope, to avoid the necessity of opening and closing theenvelope to start and stop the toy.

The path of the toy may be made to be irregular and random by providinga cam actuated, random path generator on the driving wheel of thedriving means. For additional amusement, flashing lights and/ordifferent pitched sounds or noise can be added to the driving meansinside the envelope.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what isconsidered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It isrecognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within thescope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to aperson skilled in the art.

What is claimed Is:

1. A toy for uninterrupted movement about a surface which changesdirection whenever an obstacle too large to pass over is contactedcomprising:

a hollow enclosed curved envelope having an inner and outer surface; and

an envelope driving means frictionally engaged to and pivotally moveablerelative to the engaged inside envelope surface, having at least afirst, second and a third supporting means on said inner surface, saidfirst supporting means including torque means pivotally moveable to androtatably engageable with said inner surface for propelling andproviding a rotational moment on said driving means, whereby theenvelope is rollable, about a planar surface and will change directionand continue rolling whenever an obstacle is contacted by said envelope.2. A motorized toy as in claim 1, wherein: said driving means includinga frame, said first, second and third supporting means coupled to saidframe. 3. A motorized toy as in claim 2 including: rotational energymeans, said first supporting means including a first wheel and a firstaxle fixedly cou led to said wheel and rotatably coupled to said ame andsaid energy means.

4. A motorized toy as in claim 3, wherein:

said second supporting means includes a second wheel and a second axle,said second axle coupled to said second wheel and frame.

5. A motorized toy as in claim 4, wherein:

said third supporting means including a supporting member coupled tosaid frame at one end along the longitudinal axis of said frame, saidfirst and second wheels coupled at the opposite end of said frame.

6. A motorized toy as in claim 5, wherein:

the center of gravity of said driving means is between the frame and theenvelope contact areas of the first, second and third supporting means.

7. A motorized toy as in claim 6, wherein:

said envelope is separable into a first portion and a second portion.

8. A motorized toy as in claim 7, wherein:

said envelope is spherical; and

said driving means includes an electric motor a circuit means, a batterycoupled to said motor by said circuit means, and said motor, On-Offswitch means.

9. A motor as in claim 7, wherein:

said energy source is a spring-wound actuated motor.

1. A toy for uninterrupted movement about a surface which changes direction whenever an obstacle too large to pass over is contacted comprising: a hollow enclosed curved envelope having an inner and outer surface; and an envelope driving means frictionally engaged to and pivotally moveable relative to the engaged inside envelope surface, having at least a first, second and a third supporting means on said inner surface, said first supporting means including torque means pivotally moveable to and rotatably engageable with said inner surface for propelling and providing a rotational moment on said driving means, whereby the envelope is rollable about a planar surface and will change direction and continue rolling whenever an obstacle is contacted by said envelope.
 2. A motorized toy as in claim 1, wherein: said driving means including a frame, said first, second and third supporting means coupled to said frame.
 3. A motorized toy as in claim 2 including: rotational energy means, said first supporting means including a first wheel and a first axle fixedly coupled to said wheel and rotatably coupled to said frame and said energy means.
 4. A motorized toy as in claim 3, wherein: said second supporting means includes a second wheel and a second axle, said second axle coupled to said second wheel and frame.
 5. A motorized toy as in claim 4, wherein: said third supporting means including a supporting member coupled to said frame at one end along the longitudinal axis of said frame, said first and second wheels coupled at the opposite end of said frame.
 6. A motorized toy as in claim 5, wherein: the center of gravity of said driving means is between the frame and the envelope contact areas of the first, second and third supporting means.
 7. A motorized toy as in claim 6, wherein: said envelope is separable into a first portion and a second portion.
 8. A motorized toy as in claim 7, wherein: said envelope is spherical; and said driving means includes an electric motor , a circuit means, a battery coupled to said motor by said circuit means, and said motor, ''''On-Off'''' switch means.
 9. A motor as in claim 7, wherein: said energy source is a spring-wound actuated motor. 